Family

Family

I can't think of anything more precious short of God's grace than family. I am thankful for my wife of twenty years and all of my children. I am also glad for my mom and dad and siblings I grew up with. Through it all I can see a tapestry of life woven into me..through the joys and pains, disappontments and sorrows I am still blessed to belong. My own kids challenging me everyday but I would not trade them for anything. Each one of them is so unique in there own way and that's the way it should be. I hope to encourage them to become all they can be. That is Gods plan for their lives realized. That will be so different for each of them and that is good. Janine make my life a shared journey and a partner in life. I am blessed to not be alone but to live with my best friend. I am also thankful for the RLC church family who has blessed me beyond measure. What a privelage to serve these amazing people! Not being perfect we are discovering what God is doing to us and in us all to give praise to Jesus. I am also so thankful for Teen Challenge Girls Home in Kansas City including director Doug Anderson. The difference you have made in my own daughter and family leaves me without words. I love this ministry and thank God for it! Finally I am so blessed to have a God, Jesus Christ who just does not give up on me but walks me into healing with my own hurts, hang-ups and habits. A recovery church was His idea and we are recipients!!

What is the Box?

The way you stop sinning is by getting God-sized vision that consumes all your time and energy.

Wow. What a thought to consider. If I only would have read that thirty years ago! Yet I've always felt that in my heart. I have been accuses many times for being so intense and told to mellow out. But I am a big dreamer and I can't help but think hard questions that wander outside of the box. Ever wonder what "the box" is anyway? It is the status quo. It's excepting that things are the way they are supposed to be becuase that is what everyone has been taught. So to be busy about the vision must look like something you can't find in the box because the box keeps us inward focused or bored with things. I have to ask... Where do we go from here? What would happen if we actually did what we preached or learned about? Why is it this way and is that what God meant for us to do with it? Etc. On the other hand, when I am bored I rather say, "this is the way it is so I may as well get some pleasure now. Afterall, what else is there?" huh? There is so much more! Turn up the intensity and let's carry the vision!

I am sitting here on my lounge chair...that in itself is a good thing! I am on the back deck in our new house watching the waterfall. Very peaceful. My son Judah is is with me eating a popsicle. (After eating his spoonful of peanut butter). Little Sweetie is sick and in bed and the others are at TC and school. Janine is at work. Dishes are being cleaned in the dishwasher and some of the bills are paid. Moving caused a lot of extra expenses and our RV trip ended up going over. So many in my life going through things. Because of FB I have knowledge of many peoples situations and it is a lot! I am praying for them. With the burdens and the concerns even still I know that I am blessed. There is always more up then downs and the light outshines the dark every time. It may be impossible to articulate all of this in a weblog yet in my heart I tell it to be joyful, thankful and peaceful. Truly I can in Christ!

Janine's 20 Year Class Reunion

Janine's Reunion - so I am here at the 20 year reunion with Janine. She is reconnecting with her classmates from days gone by. Is this "analog facebook"? Now I am the spouse that comes along and feels akward. So what do I do? What any guy would do...I sit on the lounge and blog about it. So this brings some questions to mind. Why do we enjoy rennecting with those we rarely see? Why do we dress up and get nervous about our appearance? Why do we want to impress and feel insecure? My favorite is: did we ever imagine this day and what it would be like 20 years ago? Now since this is her reunion and not mine I can sit here and ask questions no one is asking. Meanwhile she is out having a good time with old friends. Ok guess I should get up now and stop blogging :)

Day 9 Part 3 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 9 part 3 finally I am thankful for all of those who supported and prayed for this trip. The impact will have eternal consequence. I could not have done it without you. Thank you!!! If you would like to continue to pray for Kaytie and/or help with future visits to see her we would be most grateful. All glory to Jesus.

Day 9 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 9 part 2 my final thoughts about all this...

I am so privelaged to have spent this week with these 33 teen challenge girls and staff. I am amazed of what servant hearted girls they are. The way they invested in the Lakota tribe children, holding them, teaching them and playing with them. I am also so greatful for teen challenge and how these lives are being changed. I am amazed at the love and power of Jesus Christ. I am also thankful for the director Mr. Doug Anderson for his compassion patience and leadership over his team and these girls. But mostly I am so very greatful for the change in my daughter's life. Her attitude and spirit. She really struggled and begged me to take her home in the start of the week but in the car she told me that she is ready to be in teen challenge. Her baptism was beautiful and I got to do it for her. I am a hopeful and blessed man.

Day 9 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 9 this morning we cleaned up and packed. We had a wonderful church service this morning. About 15 locals and the large tc team made attendance about 65. I enjoyed doing worship with the two girls, Shelby and Kyli. Afterward the songs Shelby did her own song for the offering. The TC girls did various music signing, a skit I was in, and testimonies. Wow. One testimony really made me cry thinking of all the horrible abuse and pain she went through yet she is ready to serve the Lord and was baptized yesterday with Kaytie. At the end one of the TC girls preached. We left during that to head for the airport. Made it on time and have a good seat. I am texting this blog from the Omaha Airport.

Day 8 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 8 part 2 we did some clean up around the town and met an older man who gave us pepsis. I did not have one. I noticed how the yards had a lot of trash and yet some were much nicer than others. I learned the reason why there were so many damaged cars was jealosy. I can't imagine someone banging up a car for that reason but I suppose it is true. In the afternoon we all went to the river where 6 girls were baptized. It was a very special time with kaytie. She shared her heart and there is also a video. In the evening I discovered I will be leading worship with two of the girls. We had a time of sharing around the room which I thought was so encouraging to hear the things God was doing with the entire group. We went outside for fireworks which was chaos to say the least. Two gangs started at it so we went inside. A very cool and interesting 4th of July.

Day 8 Part 3 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 8 part 3 I learned that a family had some issues at home so stayed with us for safety. Kaytie gave up her air mattress for them. Kaytie also fell in love with the baby Micah. He was adorable or as kaytie said an angel.

Day 8b Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 8 part 2 kaytie was baptized today!

Day 8a - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 8 Saturday morning: Today is the hard day because we are getting tired but just like a run it gets harder before it gets easier. I love it! I am on a run right now...back to the run :)

Day 7 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 7 part 2 we ended up doing a mural about jospeph and his coat of many colors. We were able to do this one mural in only one day! Mr Doug announced that there were going to be baptizing girls today but because of the rain we are going to try for today (saturday) July 4th. Its still colder cloudy and raining however. So last night I watched kaytie practice their human videos and choir song. I am going to be Jesus in a skit for them. Before bedtime we watched a couple Giglio sermons from the passion series. The first one was about the cosmos and how God made all of it meaning he is bigger than what he made yet he still sees us. And loves.

Day 7 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 7 it's raining! Today we are going to decide what to do since it is raining. Many people have come up to me and said kaytie and I not only look alike but can be very "random". We are singing veggie tales songs while we wait to start the next mural. Jonah and the Whale.

Day 6 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 6 today I led worship with Shelby after breakfast. We did 1) every move I make 2) if we are the body 3) I want to know you (slowly) afterwards I spoke on Luke 15 the prodigal son. I challenged them to pray for those in their families and make Jesus the center of their influence. After that we basically spent the entire day painting the mural. We finished! We really did this time. I am very proud of these girls and it confirms kayties good talent.

Day 6 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 6 part 2 the pastors wife made the comment that the girls should sign their names on the painting. Kaytie insisted that both our names should be on Esther even though it is hers. I will post picks in a couple weeks into this blog. I have been blogging through my blackberry. I am very proud of these girls and plan on buying them some ice cream or something tomorrow to celebrate. Tonight we had "Indian Tacos" which is a fried bread (like a maple bar) with the standard taco toppings. Very cool. Not sure if my gallbladder agrees with my brain though! Mr. Doug announces a water baptism at the river tomorrow night. Kaytie wants to do this again as a rededication to the Lord. I think she was baptized by me when she was 8 in Davenport. Mr. Doug asked me if I wanted to baptize kaytie again. I just might.

Day 5 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 5 part 2 but it was a good word and time watching all the girls including Kaytie share in the discussion. Afterwards I hung out with Kaytie and a girl Shelby who plays the guitar and is in Fine Arts Festival going to nationals. I am going to lead some worship in the morning with her. Meanwhile Kaytie was drawing an amazing guitar drawing on her shoes. Overall a great day on this missions trip.

Day 5 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 5 this morning was another beautiful sunrise with a gentle warm breeze. After running and breakfast I had the opportunity to speak to the girls about "influence". It turned out favorably in my opinion and I will share part two tomorrow. Afterwards we continued working on the mural and are very near completion. We may be doing another one tomorrow. We had lunch setup duty so we made 50 ham sandwiches together. This afternoon we worked really hard on the mural and finished. Well almost. The girls worked so hard that I agreed to walk to the river and then to the tiny store. On the way back some local kids through a bottle rocket at us and almost hit one of the girls. Good thing I did not get angry too (ha ha). Then I came back and took a nap. Yea! Dinner was BBQ burgers. Was I ever ready for that. Tonight was Wednesday night Bible studies and the TC Director Doug spoke. Not many locals was there...

Day 4 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 4 this morning I ran for about a mile. Warm sunny morning. It was a good time over breakfast just hanging out with Kaytie. We got out the guitar again and figured out how to play "friend like that". Judah will be thrilled since it is his favorite song. Now we are working on a kids church mural with another girl. The picture is of Queen Esther, David and Goliath and something else. This afternoon is the VBS. Three painting teams have gone out to work on two local homes and the team center. The church really desires to reach out in practical ways doing for "Others". See www.aboutothers.com.I have enjoyed some of the other parents here (the 4 Dads) just sharing our stories. Its like a support group, very encouraging!

Day 4 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 4 part 2 this afternoon we spent the afternoon painting the mural. Kaytie and I had a lot of fun hanging out with the other two girls, Kyli and Linzi. We finished a lot of that mural today! Tonight we will be swimming.

Day 3 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 3 part 2 kaytie had a hard time wanting me to take her home so I went off to walmart with some leaders to get food. I told her we can't keep doing this. After I got back she came to me and apologized and promised not to talk about it anymore so we can enjoy our time together. Somebody had a guitar and so kaytie asked me to play and sing with her. We sang for half hour singing woship choruses and hymns. Others would join in from time to time. it was a great time.

Day 3 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 3 we found the church in lower brule about 10PM. It was along ride. About 12 hours traveling. But we settled in and went to bed by midnight. This morning I got up at 6am and went running down to missouri river. Very warm with lots of fresh air. There really isn't a store here but we need milk. Over 4 bucks for milk at the tiny convenience store. Later they will need to drive 2 hours round trip to walmart to get food. The church is a new building. Very nice with a parsonage. Seats about 80. Kaytie woke up grumpy from all the "drama". We are going to get oriented today with the plan for the week. VBS. Painting the youth center. Canvassing the community to invite the kids. Remote but beautiful here. The town is clean but I learned the unemployment is like 70 percent. Wow. Off to breakfast.

Day 2 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 2 part 2 been on the road for 7 hours already. Lunch at Arbys in the middle of no where. Sitting in the backseat with Kaytie in the car talking about fun stuff. Playing with the camera. It can choose a color then when you take a picture it makes it black n white except for that color. Cool. Then she wanted to look at the calendar thinking about how long it is til she completes. It was hard again...we fell asleep...naps are not just for toddlers anymore. :) just passed through Sioux City Iowa. River town on the missouri. I think Tyson owns this town since they have their name on the new arena. Casinos. Fireworks. Lots of open spaces.

Day 2b - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 2 for breakfast. Grapes piece of bread spoonful of peanutbutter and a propel.

Day 2a - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 2 last night I took Kaytie to Subway was fairly hard because she misses home and wants to be home. We talked. I suggested the oak but it was blah blah blah. This morning we are packing up and getting ready. I will be riding in an Altima (very nice) with another parent, Bill, Kaytie and Bills daughter. He works with the parks department in Missouri. We will have countless hours to all get acquanted. I am charging the batteries for the camera as we wait to go. I am drinking a superfood feelgood drink with algae, fruit, wheat and barley grass. Kaytie is now bugging me to stop this blogging!

Day 1 Part 2 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Day 1 part 2 - kaytie told me she needed some things on her needs list so "Mr Doug" the director was nice enough to loan me his car so of to walmart we go. After two hours we found our way back to TC. By the way, its 1OO here with I think 100 percent humidity. Thank the Lord for AC. When we got back we learned we are not going to the fireworks guess the girls got in trouble and they are too tired. Tomorrow morning we leave for south dakota. Onward!

Day 1 - Missions Trip with Kaytie

Kaytie day 1 we are at a picnic in the park. She yelled and screamed when she saw me and would not let go! Tonight we are going to a fireworks display with her church.

Tiny Little Airplanes

Tiny little airplanes. I do not travel a lot so I have not had the experience traveling on Delta's tiny little airplanes. Now granted that there are very small private planes but I am talking about commercial jets with turbo engines. They look like the big ones but just tiny.

Sitting at the airport waiting for connection flights can be interesting. I was sitting there watching the news about Michael Jackson's death and this little baby judt across the aisle was smiling at everyone. Why do babies smile so much? It is almost like the outcome of what is in the heart. Jesus said something about "out of the heart the mouth speaks". I would assume then that could also apply to "out of the heart the face smiles". Babies don't have all the life history of, regrets, anger and hatred. They just have a need for feed and a smiling heart. What does all this have to do with tiny airplanes? Tiny baby makes it ok!

The Bikers Prayer

My wife went over to Seattle for the funeral of her uncle Bill. Bill was a biker who rode, fixed and breathed Harleys. Bill was a great guy and will be missed.

At his funeral a "Bikers Prayer" was printed on his memorial program. I wanted to share this because I also ride motorcycles.

Every year I go on some kind of road trip with my buddies from elementary school. Yes that is correct, I did say elementary school. We have known each other most all of our lives and have managed to stay in contact and meet together every year. About 5 years ago we started riding together. We have been on several trips, some up into Canada and a couple to Yellowstone. This year we are heading back up to Banff, Alberta, Canada and passing through Glacier National Park in Montana.

I do not know where they got this but it was written by Dean Downey and the story would go that Uncle Bill would get together with the Baptist Pastor in Preston, WA and say a prayer with the bikers before they rode.

Dear Lord, as I get ready to get on this hog and prepare to ride, just let me feel your presence with me riding side by side. Let us feel the wind together blowing across our face. Don't let me fail to see and smell the nature around me as I ride from place to place.

Dear Lord, keep me safe from harm and let the other drivers see me as I ride by. And every once in awhile even though I'm a biker let them say, "Hi". Keep me alert and always watching for others. Don't let me ever fail to stop and help out one of my sisters or brothers.

And when my time on earth is up and it's time for me to take that ride in the sky, just give me a chance to tell everyone I love them and don't forget me when I die. Lord, thank you for letting me be a biker and doing what I loved the best. For the many miles I traveled, places I got to go and see before I finally came to rest.

All those hurting people

Hurting people are everywhere. 

It's overwhelming. I do not know how God can take all of this. My heart breaks for just the handful that I am close to. 

But I know this...God can do something about it. I know that if I pray for them God will come to their broken and downcast hearts and lift them up. 

People love miracles. I've seen people chase after them. People love to see the miraculous happen right in front of their eyes. But I think the most amazing miracle of all is when a broken and contrite heart is revived and reconnected to the arms of God. Within that I see the miracle of a broken heart healed. That's what I long to see. 

It's something that only God can uniqually do. 

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (King James Version)

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (God's Word)

LONELY PEOPLE by America

This is for all the lonely people 
thinking that life has passed them by 
Don't give up 
until you drink from the silver cup 
And ride that highway in the sky 


This is for all the single people 
thinking that life has left them dry 
don't give up 
until you drink from the silver cup 
you never know until you try 


Well I'm on my way 
Yes, I'm back to stay 
Well, I'm on my way back home 


This is for all the lonely people 
thinking that life has left them dry 
don't give up 
until you drink from the silver cup 
She'll never take you down or 
never give you up 
you never know until you try 

 

Waiting in Line with Nothing to do

So here I stand in a very long line at the usps with only one employee working.

Is it because people do not mail personal letters much anymore? Could it be that Fedex and UPS do most of the packages? Perhaps the price of fuel or budget cuts or all of the above!

The cool thing is the one guy working is really friendly and doing a great job. Hard for him considering when he looks over here he sees the glares of impatient people.

OK now there is another employee that just jumped in. The line is getting longer as the drama continues.

Who will wait to be served? Who will give up and leave?

When will the outdated stuff for sale finally move off the shelves.

Wow! I just moved. Almost to the counter. Here I go!

The brown spot and the patch of grass

The Brown Spot

There's a patch of grass missing in my backyard. You see, I put one of those 18 foot round pools there 2 summers ago. After removing the pool it left a big round brown spot. I would joke to my kids and say that is where a UFO landed or something. Could have been aliens you know.

Well this year I decided the brown spot needs to go. So with out doing any planning at all I just bought some grass seeds and threw them on there and waited. I know what you are thinking..."he is an idiot!" Perhaps a little water, perhaps some tilling of the soil or what not.

After a month seeing that my brown spot was still there, I decided to read the directions on the package. OK, duh. "Till the soil, plant the seeds, add some fertilizer, then water, and keep moist for days", or something like that. The first few days nothing happened. I thought for sure that I was a failure again and even that perhaps I have some kind of "grass patch curse" or something. But because I took the time to water it every day, low and behold...baby grass appeared.

At first the babies were almost impossible to see but they were there. I realized that I needed to protect them. So I roped off the area with some plastic chairs and some rope I had from the fishing boat days. (I sold that to get my motorcycle).

The Patch of Grass

Two weeks later there is a ton of grass growing there. I've already mowed it once and you should see it now. Nice and green and getting full. Oh, there still is some empty spaces but it's filling in as long as I keep watering it, keep the little kids off of it, all I see is a flurishing lawn! And the brown path? It's been replaced by a patch of healthy growing grass.

Ok, you already see the analogy I am going to use...

My life has brown patches that were put there by my own personal "entertainment" which I thought was fine at the time but was actually slowly killing my spiritual life. At first I tried on my own to fix the problem. 1. Deny there is a brown patch at all. 2. Just throw a scripture of two at it and hope God does some kind of merciful miracle.

But then I "read the directions" and it was clear that I needed to till, fertilize and water. The directions in the Bible became obvious, tilling can hurt sometimes or at least is hard work, and I watered it with lots of prayer, and after time and patience on my part (God did not have an issue I should remind you, it was all me) the green grass began to grow and the brown spot was leaving.

What kind of brown spots do you have right now? My advice is to read the directions and then be patient, because God is not finished with you yet. Sounds like a button or bumper sticker.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:10 (NASB77)

8 He covers the sky with clouds. He provides rain for the ground. He makes grass grow on the mountains. 9 He is the one who gives food to animals and to young ravens when they call out. 10 He finds no joy in strong horses, nor is he pleased by brave soldiers. 11 The Lord is pleased with those who fear him, with those who wait with hope for his mercy.

Psalms 147:8-11 (GW)

7 It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.

1 Cor 3:7 (MSG)

Raising up the dead things

Jesus raises up the dead things in me.

In Luke 7:11 - 17 we read this episode:

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Luke 7:11-17 (NIV)

1. This woman not only had lost her son but she did not have a husband as she was a widow. The significance of that is that in those days, a woman relied on her husband to care for her. The son would be the one to inherit what the Father had and would be the one who also would be responsible to take care of his mother. With her son gone, she was not only losing her family but her provision for daily life.

2. Jesus' heart went out to her. He said, "don't cry" and then raised up her dead son.

Wow.

3. When I see the dead things in my life that seem to stare me in the face, Jesus looks at me and says, "don't cry", and then he raises up the dead things in me.

The people were filled with awe and praised God. What other response is there when good things happen in our lives?

Running for my life

Yes, I started jogging! I can't believe it.

I did this only because of the inspiration of some friends and the desire to be healthier. 

Look, it is pretty scary when you can't remember the last time you got your heart rate up. I am 46 years old and I have been basically sitting on my behind for the last two years sitting in front of this computer. I have pretty strong fingers though. 

Why do this?

I want to be a better steward of the body God gave me...plus I want to feel better. 

You know, for years I have been able to get away with eating anything I want and basically little excercise. One exception. I worked for Fedex for awhile and I lost 20 lbs and felt really good. I would walk 10 miles a day push, pulling and lifting heavy packages. Now I am back to wimpdom. 

Well, good-bye wimpworld. I am running for life!

Beards, Sugar & Hot Weather

I've noticed that the weather is unusually warm for May. Here is the forcast.

Wednesday May 27 - 74*

Thursday May 28 - 82*

Friday May 29 - 88*

Could it really be global warming? What about the extreme winter we had and how does that contrast it? 

In my opinion, this is a new year with new weather and new adventures! Why compare to the past? 

My life is like that right now. I am growing a beard. I know, you think I am crazy. Why now when it is getting warmer? It wasn't planned, really. I just forgot to shave one day, then two went by and next thing you know it Janine said it looks nice. So I went online and found out that if you really want this life change you got to be committed! You have to wait at least 3 weeks before you start hacking at it to make it look nice. 

So life change takes committment huh? 

Now that we are talking about committment, I wanted to mention that I did a 2 week fast from sugar. That ended last week sometime but I decided that I would pretty much stay away from the hard stuff. Why? It doesn't make me feel very good. In fact, I have less headaches and I am losing weight too! Talk about committment! The other day I brought donuts to church and as I was drooling over them I choose not to eat a single one. Not even sneak a bite when no one was looking! 

What does all this mean? Change can be good if it improves your health, your life and makes you a better person. 

Look at this verse from the Bible:

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 12:22-31 (NIV)

I think I am going to keep things simple, not freak out or over react to what I am doing. I am going to have fun, eat blackberries and grow a beard! Hey, why not? I feel pretty good about it anyway. And if Janine likes it all, then it's cool. 

Raising up leaders

Raising up leaders

AW Tozer says in his book "Tozer on Christian Leadership" - Our churches these days are filled with a soft breed of Christian that must be fed on a diet of harmless fun to keep them interested. About theology they know little. Scarcely any of them have read even one of the great Christian classics, but most of them are familiar with religious fiction and spine-tingling films. No wonder their moral and spiritual constitution is so frail. --------- As a leader, I want to raise up the bar. Time to train up leaders!

Killed Caffeine

Please do not get mad at me, but I killed caffeine. I no longer drink the stuff. It's been about 6 months now. I used to love it, but now it is gone. Can you blame me? It was messing up my body! 

Now I am an outsider. When I go into a coffee shop and order a "decaf", people snicker and glare at me. I drop my head down in shame. 

So thankfully there is caffeine free Coca Cola, herbal tea, and yes, most root beer doesn't have any of it! I am also glad to report that most fruit juice is caffeine free as well. And milk. And water. 

OK, are you going to throw your homily at me now, reminding me that even decaf has small amounts of caffeine in it? You are right. I will give you that. But I will not weaken in front of the energy drink section. Yes, I do not drink monsters or any other overloading "giant sweet tart tasting" beverages. 

Are you still mad at me? Have I gone too far? Can I still open the door of my local Starbucks with confidence? 

Honestly, I am not preaching at you. I am only a soloist, a individual who openly admits he is in love with the stuff, yet must walk away from it and find happiness anyway. I know I can do this. How do I know? Because I am on a two week sugar fast and that is much harder! 

(Please see my post - "Sugar is Evil")

The Eyes have had it!

Over the last few months my eyesight has progressivly been decreasing in ability to see things up close. At first I thought I was freaking out or something. Maybe I had a tumor in my brain. Then I learned that it's because I turned 46 this year. 

That's right, middle age. 

Now what do I do? The days when I could go to the park, just pick up a book and read and then look out at the beautiful view is gone. Now I have to put on glasses. I thought glasses were those things you drank milk out of! But glasses are for seeing and I sure do appreciate them. 

Funny thing is, the older I get the more I realize how much I never appreciated what I had when I was younger. perfect eyes is one of those things. 20/20 vision I was so proud of. Now I am humbled to join the rest of my family, which by the way, they all wear glasses! 

So what can I say...looks like the eyes have had it! 

Mothers are like no other

In reflecting the days of my own mother I have both good and bad memeries. The good ones make me smile and the bad ones...You see she passed away a few years ago and yet it already seems like so long ago but I prefer to think of the good things. Losing your own mother, I think, is one of the hardest things in life because the loss is bigger than you. My mom impacted so many people than just myself. One thing is for sure...you only realize what you no longer have until you actually don't have it anymore. 

Here are only a few of those things I was blessed with in my mom...My mom remembered all the important events in my life. When she saw me in person, she always gave me a hug and kissed me. She would call me on the phone and want to know everything that was going on. When email became mainstream, she would email me all the time and I still have a bunch of those emails saved on disk. She would love my wife and her grandkids and cooked some of the best meals for us on planet earth. 

I do not know what your mom is like, but my mom had terrible mood swings. As much as she was loving she could be very difficult to be around. I could not bear to be around her for more than a few days at a shot. Not even sure how I survived my childhood with all the stress! Yet, even after reflecting on those no so good memories, I still miss the little things she did for me. 

I think everybody needs a mom in their life. Why? Because nobody really loves with such tenderness as much as moms do. Even if the entire world hated me, I know my mom would still love me and stand up for me. She was on my side. 

So here is a thought: Somehow that part of God's character that is gentle, kind, all-loving and tender was given on loan to moms. 

God so much believes in the idea of a mom that his own son was born and raised by one. Who else would have stood by Jesus side all the way to the cross as she wept for her boy dieing for all of us. 

So to all you moms out there. Thank you for all of the years of love from changing our diapers, putting up with us when we were thirteen, cheering us on when we graduated from high school and/or college, celebrating with us at our weddings, and rejoicing over the babies that were born. Then being amazing grandmas spoiling our children. 

Don't think I forgot about the fathers. Dads are great too, but that is another blog. 

So thanks moms, because with out you, we would never have known the rich blessings, the tenderness and care there can be within a family. 

Sugar is Evil

All my life from the time I can remember I have eaten white processed granulated sugar. 

You know, the really sweet stuff you can wet with your finger and dip into the sugar bowl then lick it off. It's that stuff that is in the oversweet Koolaid or iced tea. It's the stuff that when I was a kid I used to dump way too much of over my cereal (before they had thousands of sweet cereals out on the market). And it's the same stuff that is in all the cookies, candy, treats, Coca Cola...and yes, my Starbucks white chocolate mocha. 

It's in everything and is everywhere. 

In fact, it's almost impossible to get rid of! It's all over my house hiding in my drawer in the form of chocolate, it's in our cupboards, in the upstairs and downstairs fridge, and the garage freezer. It's in my favorite food in the entire world...ice cream. Kind of reminds me of sin. You can't seem to shake it. Oh no...I said it again, shake...as in milk shake! 

Help! 

For the next two weeks a coworker and I will be saying NO to sugar for two weeks. It's crazy because now I have to look at labels, and say no to things I never said no too before. 

Why do this? 

I need to see if I can live without it. I need to be able to live without it. I've already said no to caffeine. That wasn't too bad with a headache for a few days. But saying no to sugar is like saying no to breathing air. I've been told that it is really bad for you. I've been told that after people get off of the white stuff they begin to feel overall better. And I wonder what kind of grip it has on me. The only thing in my life I want to have a grip on me is God. 

We learned recently from a fellow church planter that caffeine plus the Holy Spirit equals awesome. But maybe, just maybe it could be sugar plus the Holy Spirit equals awesome. Now I am thinking that maybe just the Holy Spirit plus nothing equals awesome because I will have a healthier body and I won't feel like I NEED it so much. So after my experiment I will let you know how I am doing and what I have learned. I very well may be crawling back to that addicting white stuff after I am done with all of the body cleansing. 

8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1 Cor 8:8 (NIV)

Pauls tells the Corinthian church that eating food sacrificed to idols is nothing since all food is good and we should thankful for it. However, if we eat something that messes up somebody elses faith then we should stay away from it. Sugar doesn't mess up my faith and probably doesn't mess you up either, but it might be messing up this 46 year old body. 

What do you think?

God's Charactor

Since God's charactor does not change, then any inconsistency's seen is only a misunderstanding. See Romans 11:33 - 36

Not unarmed

An invisible theif can sneak up on you when you least expect it. However, we are not unaware nor unarmed.

Laura's Art

Laura's Art - I was told by Taylor-Anne that Laura wiped her poop all over the wall. Laura was proud. Do we mess up our lives thinking its good?

Sitting around the table

Thinking about people finding their place around the table of influence.

Discipleship Series Part 3 - Mentoring - Small Groups on May 3

Mentoring is essential in the discipleship process because of its focus, its care, it’s transferring of heart to heart, wisdom to wisdom. It’s how things are transferred from one person to another. Everybody needs a mentor because everybody needs to grow. All great leaders have mentors and are mentoring. Great mentors are also great role models because their lives are demonstrations. According to Harvey S. Firestone, founder of the Firestone tire company, “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” Same is true in the Church. People’s growth and development into Disciples of Christ is our highest calling. That is what mentoring is all about. It’s been said that “Things are better caught than taught”. This “catching” would be impossible without mentoring! Why? Because mentoring happens when the mentored is watching.

Mark 3:14 (NIV)

14 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --that they might be with him…